Surgical Outcomes of Vertical Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap Pelvic Reconstruction

The vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap has emerged as the workhorse flap for perineal and pelvic reconstruction. The authors aimed to evaluate outcomes of the VRAM flap over a 20-year period and the role of mesh abdominal wall reinforcement following VRAM flap-based reconstruction.

The authors conducted a retrospective review of all consecutive patients who underwent pelvic reconstruction with a VRAM flap between January of 2001 and March of 2021. Our primary outcome measure included recipient and donor surgical-site occurrences (SSOs).

The authors identified a total of 546 patients (55% women) with a mean age of 58 years and mean body mass index of 27 kg/m 2 . Mesh was used at the time of VRAM reconstruction to reinforce the abdominal donor site in 36% of patients. Recipient SSOs occurred in 38% of patients, and donor SSOs occurred in 17% of patients. Hernia was identified in 9.9% of patients, and bulge developed in 6.4% of patients. The Cox proportional hazards regression model for hernia occurrence identified age, body mass index, tobacco use (hazard ratio, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.02 to 4.04), and use as an extended VRAM flap (hazard ratio, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.04 to 4.36). The use of mesh or component separation were not independent protective factors for hernia occurrence.

The pedicled VRAM flap is versatile and is our preferred flap for reconstruction of pelvic and perineal defects. The use of mesh/component separation to allow for fascial closure was not shown to reduce donor-site hernia occurrence.

Therapeutic, IV.